Most Influential Heavy Metal Bands of the 80s and 90s
A list reflecting your views on the most influential heavy metal bands of the 80s and 90s. I'd love to also add the 2000s but we are yet to see A big impact from any of these bands (as A lot of these bands are still "new")Warning: DO NOT ADD ANY BANDS FROM AFTER 1999, DO NOT ADD ANY BANDS WHO EITHER DON'T PLAY HEAVY METAL OR ONLY PLAYED HEAVY METAL FOR A SHORT PERIOD IN THEIR CAREER
I do not want to see anything similar to the following (These are examples of bands that aren't really metal an shouldn't be on this list.... obviously ANY band that formed or didn't release albums until the end of the 90s or the start of the 2000s should NOT be on this list.
Systems of A down
Linkin Park
Avenged Sevenfold
Limp Bizcuit
Northlane
Disturbed
ACDC
Black Veil Brides
ect ect
Notice how I left bands like SLIPKNOT and UNEARTH.... that's because UNLIKE the above bands they are HEAVY METAL bands. This warning isn't here because I'm trying to be an elitist.... it's to make sure that only heavy metal bands are on the list... and that they at least formed before 2000.)
I'd love to have put these guys at the top but because of fanatic Christians in the US Iron maiden were never popular there (ironically bands like slayer, Metallica and megadeth were commercially successful. ) And therefore had little influence on A lot of US based extreme metal HOWEVER still had A big impact in Europe.
Iron maiden are often regarded as the biggest influence on early prog metal, power metal and 80s traditional heavy metal. They also heavily influenced genres like Melodic death metal and black metal Along with A lot of Folk metal and symphonic metal bands.
With their first two albums, Kill 'Em All and Ride The Lightning reaching underground success, their third effort, Master of Puppets has since become one of the most important heavy metal albums ever, as it became the first thrash metal album to be certified platinum. The title track has since become the band's most played song live. ...read more.
I'm not A fan of neither slayer nor Metallica BUT slayer and Metallica were easily some of the most influential metal bands of the 80s and 90s. I think I could of got away here putting either of them however A lot of bands rejected slayer as an influence (Although many admitted later on that they were an influence. )
I think Metallica's influence unlike slayer's was definitely more prominent in the early 90s than it was in the 80s although they definitely influenced quite A few bands in the 80s as well.
Probably the single most Influential EXTREME METAL band of the 80s. Without them there would be no bands like Metallica, slayer, Megadeth, Coroner, Anthrax etc etc. Thrash would have sounded completely different without them.
Death metal: Deathcore, metalcore, groove metal, nu metal, grindcore, deathgrind, goregrind, Death/Thrash, Melodic death metal, technical death metal, Brutal death metal or MIXTURES of the above genres.
Black metal, Symphonic black metal, melodic black metal, folk metal, viking metal, celtic metal, "unblack metal" etc etc.
Or genres like funeral doom, death/doom, gothic doom, symphonic metal, drone doom etc etc.
Along with thrash fusion genres like power metal
In other words modern metal wouldn't have existed without venom and heavy metal MAY HAVE died out. One of heavy metal's strengths was/is it's ability to change or adapt to modern times where as other genres of music just don't have this dynamic.
Slayer were very influential among extreme metal bands especially in the mid 80s. Slayer Influenced SOME death metal bands along with many black metal and extreme thrash metal bands. Their influence continued in the 90s with bands like pantera and sepultura (their 90s material. ) along with later bands like slipknot and Lamb of god.
Death are considered to be one of and in some cases the first Death metal band. Of course they not only laid down and archetype for death metal but were also very famous for incorporating prog influences into some of their later music.
Death are one of the most commercially successful death metal bands to date although never gained A lot of commercial success in the US because YOU GUESSED IT, Christian fanatics (although ironically morbid angel along with deicide and cannibal corpse were more commercially successful. )
They released their debut album “Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good!” in 1985, but became successful after the release of “Peace Sells...But Who’s Buying?” in 1986. ...read more.
All these new school metal bands are trying to be pantera
Another hugely influential Thrash styled extreme metal band. Formely known as "hellhammer" they were Very influential in black metal and death metal mainly during the 80s and were influential for some thrash metal bands as well.
Like venom these guys were influential even to those now famous thrash metal bands along with black metal bands and even some death metal bands BUT mercyful fate were also quite influential for prog and traditional heavy metal bands along with doom metal bands (like candle mass. )
Many people will argue that they are not A metal band but Grindcore is A mixture of extreme metal like thrash and speed metal and hardcore punk and sound less like hardcore punk than many SLAYER songs do.
Napalm death are often credited with bringing Blast beats to extreme metal as well as coining the term (as they originated in jazz. ) and were an influence on many Death metal and grindcore bands along with many punk and rock bands to come. (and their aggressive drumming was also adopted by many thrash metal bands and later influenced many NWAHV bands. )
Napalm death were also famously features
I had to put them on the list because Death are on here. Along with Death they are credited with created death metal. Their music is heavily influenced by Venom's ideas of speed and aggression (although as Death metal developed A lot of this would be taken out of the music. ) They laid the groundwork for thousands, tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of Death metal bands after them and were one of the first (only behind Mantas) to use deep guttural vocals that would later be known as growls.
There were many bands I could have put in this place but by the end of it the list will look completely different. Angel witch influenced MOST of the above bands however no album after their self titled album was anywhere near as influential... which is why they failed to influence many bands after the early-mid 80s. Still without them Metal may not be the same today which is why they needed A mention.
Very good band, just started listening to them and they kick all of the ass